Kudzu bugs have made their arrival

Friday

Oct 26, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 26, 2012 at 1:29 PM

Question: Our front porch is covered in small stinkbugs. Where are they all coming from and how do I get rid of them? Answer: They are not stinkbugs, but kudzu bugs. Last week, I received a report from Caswell County that they were headed our way. Bobby Shoffner, of Byrd Tractor, called earlier in the week to inform me of their arrival. This was confirmed after a visit to First Presbyterian Church in Burlington. They have arrived just in time for Halloween. How exciting is this! Some people follow the stock market, money markets and the price of gold. I follow the arrival of insects, plant diseases and deer rubs. As for the kudzu bugs, these small brown insects do resemble stinkbugs. They are considered plant pests because they eat not only kudzu leaves, but also soybeans and even some of our ornamental and berry plants. Massing by the hundreds they will crawl over windows, doors and house sidings. Controlling them with insecticides will prove to be frustrating. They are looking for a place to spend the winter. They seek out light-colored areas first. Was it predestination that sent thousands of these insects to First Presbyterian or was it to hear the pastor’s sermon? Perhaps they caught wind of an upcoming covered dish supper. That is always a good way to boost attendance. All those of other denominations fear not, they will pay your church a visit soon.

Question: I have several crapemytle trees that are growing into the house and hanging over the gutters. Can I prune these trees now? Answer: Allow the trees to loose all their leaves and enter winter dormancy. Once this has happened, you can begin pruning to remove large limbs. Generally, you can begin around mid-December in our area. Pruning too early in the fall before the tree becomes dormant has shown to increase winter injury. Waiting another month or longer is best for crapemyrtles.

Question: My yardman showed me a large hornet nest in the Leyland cypress hedge. What should I do? Answer: The safest thing to do is wait until winter temperatures kill the hornets inside the nest. I believe you have discovered the large paper nest of the bald-faced hornet. Most nests resemble the shape of a large football. The hornets are still active and the best thing you can do is to avoid that area for a few more months. As long as the hornets do not feel their nest is threatened, the hornets will not attack you. Keep children and pets away if you can. Usually, around the end of December and early January, low freezing temperatures will have decimated their population. The queen, that is pregnant, has already found a home for the winter somewhere in a stump or other ground nesting site. All the workers are left behind to die. The nest will not be reused next year. It will deteriorate over the winter and spring. A new nest will be built next year.

PROTECTING WALNUTS FROM PREDATION

As I mentioned last week, if you want to plant walnuts in the ground this fall you run the risk of animal predation over the winter months. An old remedy appears in the 1945 publication “Growing Walnut for Profit.” First, you find a No. 2 tin can or larger. Punch a 1 inch diameter hole in the bottom of the can. The jagged edges of the hole should stick out. Put 1 inch of soil in the bottom of the can. Place the walnut in the can and cover with dirt. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the can and no deeper. Set the can in the dirt with open end down. The end with the hole will be up. Pack soil around the can and tamp it firmly with your foot. The rest is up to Mother Nature.

Rett Davis is the retired director of the Alamance County Cooperative Extension Service and is a certified arborist. You can email your questions to him at Rett_Davis@ncsu.edu